LAUSR

BACKGROUND A graded therapeutic concept for the treatment of chronic pain patients in Germany is only available to a limited extent. Following the onset of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), care for these patients has become even worse. AIM To develop and establish a cross-sector therapeutic concept for chronic pain patients as part of a selective contract. METHODS Embedded in existing therapeutic procedures, we define seven clinical pathways (CPs) into which patients are directed, after an interdisciplinary assessment according to refined criteria. ORGANIZATION In CP I, patients remain in standard therapy. In CP II, patients have the opportunity to participate in an additional inter-profession education program. In CP III, patients get a specialized outpatient treatment. CP IV is a partial inpatient treatment, where multiple inpatient attendance days are replaced by tele-medical treatment, via a rehabilitation app. CP V and VI are inpatient treatments over 8 and 15 days each. If patients need further psychotherapeutic support after an inpatient treatment, they can be treated by clinical psychotherapists for another six months in CP VII. EVALUATION The evaluation takes place 3, 6 and 12 months after initial assessment and includes the German Pain Questionnaire with different psychometric tests.